Bottle Gourd/Lauki/Dudhi Juice - Cure Multi Ailments

Know What You Eat: Diabetes ?? Looking for Weight loss?? Blood Pressure ?? Heart Problems??? Consuming cooked bottle gourd or bottle gourd juice shows its effects in cooling, calming and easy digestion. Low in calorie and fat it is also great for weight loss and high cholesterol levels. One such vegetable is bottle gourd. Known more in the Chinese regions and Indian subcontinents, bottle gourd has many names in local dialects such as hulu, calabash, lauki, dhudhi, hyotan, hisago etc. 

Let’s check some of the benefits of bottle gourd juice.. 

Bottle Gourd Juice for Weight Loss

Recently, bottle gourd has gained the importance for its weight losing properties. Since bottle gourd is high in water and dietary fiber, drinking a cup of bottle gourd juice in morning empty stomach gives a good fiber rich start to the day. While juice of a 100 gm bottle gourd only provides you as low as 14 calorie, it helps to curb the hunger pangs in morning and restrict you from over eating in the breakfast.

If you are drinking bottle gourd juice for weight loss, then you should not strain the juice as the weight loss properties are mainly because of its fiber content which gets filtered in the straining process. Also bottle gourd juice with a fruit bowl is a healthy replacement of unhealthy high calorie snacks in afternoon.

Blood Pressure and Heart Problems

Many health experts and naturopaths suggest that drinking bottle gourd juice benefits to high blood pressure and heart patients. Regular consumption of a cup of bottle gourd juice with a glass of water in empty stomach in early morning helps to reduce the high blood pressure and cholesterol levels and makes the heart healthy.

For Indigestion

High fiber content in bottle gourd is helpful for digestive system, though it should never be consumed in  raw form as it can harm the stomach and intestine. Fiber supports the digestive system and prevents  constipation and its related disorders like flatulence and piles. This vegetable is also recommended by Ayurveda practitioners for liver inflammation and to support the liver to efficiently process food for maximum absorption of nutrition.

  

Urinary disorders

Bottle gourd is full of water content and cooling properties, and so useful in treating urinary disorders. A glass of bottle gourd juice helps to reduce the burning sensation in urinary passage caused by high acidity of urine.

Bottle Gourd Juice for Diabetics

Bottle gourd or Lauki juice is an excellent remedy for the excessive thirst caused by diabetes, diarrhea, and over consumption of fatty foods. A glass of bottle gourd juice with a pinch of salt quenches the thirst, prevents fatigue due to loss of sodium and keeps you refreshed in summers.

Premature Graying of Hair

As per Ayurveda, consuming a glass of bottle gourd juice in early morning prevents and treats premature graying of hairs.

Ingredients:

Bottle Gourd -  1 medium (washed, peel if required) (for approx 2 glass)

Ginger - 1 inch piece

Fresh Mint or Cilantro Leaves: 15-20

Black Pepper - 1-2 pinch

Black salt - to taste (optional)

Cumin Powder - 1 tsp

Lemon Juice - 2-3 tsp

Ice cubes as required

Water as required

Preparation:

1. Wash, dice & blend bottle gourd (lauki), ginger, mint leaves with a cup of water in a blender for 2-3 minutes.

2. Add another cup of water, lemon juice, black salt, pepper powder, cumin powder & ice cubes and blend it for another two to three minutes. 

3. Strain (optional) into individual glasses and serve chilled. 

Read more »

Eggless Semi HomemadeTiramisu ~ Superhit No Hassel Recipe~

Know What You Eat: Tiramisu literally means "pick me up". The most heavenly Italian dessert on earth with fancy taste without all the work. This dessert is wonderful for a get together or just a special occasion at home. As you all know Tiramisu is a layered dessert, consisting of alternating layers of coffee-soaked Savoiardi biscuits and sweet mixture of mascarpone cheese and eggs and sugar. A BIG BUT, I am a vegetarian and thats how it made me think to come up with a vegetarian tiramisu option, when I had this Italian Christmas dinner party and so I googled a lot of these recipes before exploring into this one, which perfectly fits to my needs, taste and appearance...I used a box of cake mix which happened to be a real time saver and EGG LESS too.. instead of the lady fingers (Savoiardi biscuits), FAT FREE Cream Cheese (hung curd is a good option), Vanilla / Cheesecake pudding OR (Custard mix Brown & Polson is great option). Of Course ! there are countless variations and options available.  Here's how I made.

Recipe: Egg less Tiramisu Semi Homemade

Serves: 8-10      Preparation time: 15 mins     Cooking time: (Bake cake acc to the box instruction)

Ingredients: 

• 1 Box Vanilla OR Yellow Cake Mix
• 1 8Oz Tub Cool Whip OR Whipped Heavy Cream
• 1 8Oz Pack Fat free Cream cheese OR hung curd
• 1 Pack Jello (no gelatin) Instant pudding mix (Vanilla or Cheesecake flavor) 
• OR Custard prepared acc to instruction on box.
• 1 C Coffee Concoction (Boil 1 Cup of water add 2 Tbsp Instant Coffee Powder)
• 2 Tbsp Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
• 1 C Lowfat Milk

Method 1:

1. Bake cake in a baking dish you want to serve in..according to the instruction on the box a day before assembling this dessert. Cut the cake in half lengthwise or small circles for individual preparation like this picture above.
2. Prepare coffee concoction and pour over this first 1/2 layer cake once it is cooled.
3. In a bowl, mix together a cup of milk and instant pudding mix and whip until the crystals are dissolved.
4. Add Cool whip, cream cheese and blend until smooth.
5. With a spatula or spoon pour this over the cake. 
6. Similarly make a second layer following steps 2-5.
7. With a strainer tap coffee powder along with cocoa powder on the top most layer.
8. You can decorate it with milk or dark chocolate scrapes or chocolate confetti's like above picture.
9. Once prepared refrigerate for 3-4 hours before serving.
10. ENJOY and ENJOY!!!!

Method 2: 

1. If using hung curd instead of cream cheese and Brown and Polson vanilla custard powder instead of jello, prepare custard according to box instruction. 
2. Mix together hung curd and custard while adding vanilla essence. Blend until smooth.
3. Follow instruction from Method 1 (Steps 2-5 ,7-8).

Read more »

Wild Blueberry & Oatmeal Muffin - Eggless

Know What you Eat: Wild Blueberries may be small but they pack a healthy punch! Sweet, tangy and intensely blue, Wild Blueberries are rich in phyto nutrients — antioxidants such as anthocyanin, as well as anti-inflammatory. These natural substances, found in fruits and vegetables, are believed to protect against disease and promote healthy aging… and with their powerful natural antioxidant qualities, Wild Blueberries are at the top of the antioxidant “A-list”! Lets talk a little about highly beneficial Oatmeal.. The oatmeal nutrition facts reveal even more benefits than previously thought. The facts are these: if you are looking for a delicious way to eat healthy, and you want to entice your children into eating well by offering them something that is quick and tasty, you need to consider oatmeal. 

It helps you lose weight : Oatmeal is known for being a food that "sticks to your ribs", meaning that it simply stays in your stomach longer than junk food. This longer stay in your stomach allows you to feel fuller for a longer amount of time. You will find that your body no longer is tortured with the constant cravings that come from simple carbohydrates. Thus, you end up with significantly more energy and less hunger. 

Coming to the muffins: I always keep frozen berries in my freezer for instant smoothies, parfaits, & muffins. A handy healthy snack/dessert for anybody, combined and kept ready in any time of the day, Egg Substitute =  Applesauce goes well with berry muffin. Here's how I made it.  It goes to Helen's fussfreeflavor guest hosted by Nayna's Simply food .

Ingredients: C = Cup, tsp = teaspoons, Tbsp = tablespoons

1 C Oatmeal powder/flour  (instant oatmeal powdered in grinder)

1/2 C Wheat flour

1/2 C All purpose flour

1 C C Brown Sugar  (adjust to your taste)

1/2 C Applesauce

1/2 C vegetable oil

1/2 C Skimmed Milk   

1 C fresh/frozen blueberries

     1 1/4 tsp baking powder

     1/2 tsp salt

     1/4 tsp aluminum free baking soda

     1/2 tsp white sugar (optional)
     1/4 tsp ground cinnamon (optional)

Method:
1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (175 degrees C). 

2. Lightly grease a 12 cup muffin pan. In a small bowl, mix the oats and milk  together. Set aside.

3. In a medium bowl, mix flours, sugar, baking powder, salt, and baking soda. Thoroughly blend in the oil and applesauce.

4. Stir in the oat mixture, and fold in blueberries. 

5. Spoon /Scoop batter into the prepared muffin cups.

6. Mix 2 teaspoons sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl, and sprinkle evenly over the tops of the muffins.

7. Bake 20 to 25 minutes in the preheated oven, or until a knife inserted in the center of a muffin comes out clean.

8. Transfer on a wire rack if desired to let it cool. Best enjoyed in breakfast for fuller stomach.

Read more »

Eggless Nutritious Oats Fruit & Nut Scones

Yippyyy!!!! We are the winners at Madhuram's Eggless Baking Event - Whole Wheat...We would like to thank Madhuram & Anjali Damerla of Supreme Spice who sponsored this prizes. They sent us Tea Masala, Garlic Extract, Garam Masala Extract & Kesar Milk Extract, of which I personally used tea masala extract in my tea with these scones that I baked ...and its just so soothing aromatic & re-freshens up in seconds.. 



Know What You Eat:  Whole grains one like Oats, play an essential role in promoting your overall good health. Aside from fiber, whole grains can also provide you with a number of essential vitamins and nutrients, including folate, iron, magnesium, selenium, thiamin and riboflavin. Eating the recommended three servings of whole grains each day can also help reduce your chances of developing several serious diseases, such as heart disease, and might help with maintaining a health weight. It also lowers the risk of developing heart disease, Promotes satiety, which is important for weight management maintains healthy blood pressure, as well as keeps you regular..

Ingredients:

1/2 C Almond flour  ( almonds can be powdered in grinder )
1 C Quick cooking oats
1/2 C Whole wheat pastry flour
1/4 C Oats Flour
3/4 C Yogurt OR Apple sauce
1/2 C Candied Fruits (Tutty fruity)
2 Tbsp Mixed Nuts, roughly chopped
1  tsp Baking soda
1- 1/2 tsp Baking powder
3/4 C Melted Butter
1 C Brown Sugar ( add more acc. to taste ) can also be replaced by honey.
Few drops of Mixed Fruit /Vanilla Extract (essence)

 Method:

1.. Add quick cooking oats, almond flour, whole wheat pastry flour in a bowl, add sugar, baking soda, baking powder, butter and candied fruits to the flours and mix until the flour mixture start turning like crumbs.
2.. Now slowly add yogurt or apple sauce and knead everything as a dough.
3.. Meanwhile preheat the oven to 350F
4.. Sprinkle some flour over a plastic sheet, place the dough over the flour and roll the dough as a disc or thick roti, add few more nuts & tutty fruity chunks over the dough, press with hands.
5.. Now cut this disc into 8-10 triangles.

6.. Bake this scones for 15-20minutes or until its turns pinkish brown, done..Enjoy warm or cold with tea as a quick breakfast, anytime healthy and guilt free snack.


Event Participation:


I'm sending these lovely scones to Madhuram's Whole -grain Baking Event featuring Oats this October 09. & also to Meeta's Monthly Mingle.happening at Aparna's Diverse Kitchen for hosting High Tea Treats...
Srilekha's "EFM-Oats Series" event.

Read more »